Samuel James Williams

1853 - 1923  (70 years)

• Name	Samuel James Williams
  Born	13 Mar 1853	Madison, St. Joseph Co., Indiana   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Immigration	1874	, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Immigration	1878	, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Naturalization	1878	, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Naturalization	1896  [1]
  Business	1897	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Williams, Greene & Rome Co.'s Shirt & Collar Manufactory
  		Kitchener,Williams,GreeneandRomeCo'sShirtandCollorMaufactory-1897.jpg Williams, Green & Rome Co's Shirt & Colar Manufactory. From: Busy Berlin Jubilee Souvenir 1897, published by Berlin News-Record
  Residence	1897	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  		Kitchener,Williams,S.J.-busyberlin1897.jpg residence of S. J. Williams - From: Busy Berlin Jubilee Souvenir 1897, published by Berlin News-Record
  Elected Office	1898	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	member of Kitchener Council
  Historic Building	112 Benton Street, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	The Arrow Building
  	The building was originally constructed in 1920 for William, Green and Rome Company. Built as a factory it was later bought out by Cluett, Peabody and Company where shirts were manufactured. The building was home of the Arrow shirt factory. The building was four stories and rectangular. It is (2009) in the process of being converted into apartments.1a 1a Historic Buildings Inventory Volume 1, Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committe, 1989, pg 1
  		The Williams, Greene & Rome Co. Ltds
  Name	S. J. Williams
  Occupation	1901	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Manufacturing
  Occupation	1911	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Shirt Collar
  Residence	1911	37 Roland St, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  		aaCelebrationofCityhoodplaceholder.jpg
  		27 Roland St., Kitchener Berlin Celebration of Cityhood 1912
  Residence	1911	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Christian Science
  Residence	1923	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-32309P
  Died	1 Apr 1923	Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA   [3]
  Person ID	I32309	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2024

  
  

  Father	Alexander Williams,   b. Abt 1815, , Wales, United Kingdom ,   d. Bef 1901  (Age ~ 85 years)
  Mother	Jane Lee,   b. 1 Jun 1815, , Scotland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F8429	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Sarah Matilda "Kittie" Freeman,   b. 8 Nov 1860, Brooklyn, New York, USA ,   d. 12 Mar 1943, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 82 years)
  Children	1. Florence Eleanor Williams,   b. 25 Aug 1888, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. Mar 1926, , Mexico  (Age 37 years)   2. Daisette Esther "Esther" Williams,   b. 22 Feb 1895, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F8427	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  SAMUEL JAMES WILLIAMS. Samuel James Williams, who has taken a foremost stand in the line of manufacturing through the provision which he has made for the welfare and comfort of his employees, is numbered to-day among the representative and leading residents of Berlin. He was born March 13, 1853, in Madison, Indiana, his parents being Alexander William and Jane (Lee) Williams, natives of Wales and of Scotland respectively. They settled in Covington, Kentucky, in 1835, and subsequently became residents of Madison, Indiana. The father was a machinist by trade and possessed much mechanical ingenuity, becoming the inventor of a device for turning wooden bowls out of the solid block. He died in 1894 at the venerable age of eighty-three years and is still survived by his widow, who makes her home with her son, Samuel J., and has now reached the advanced age of ninety-one years. At the usual age Samuel J. Williams entered the public schools of his native town, wherein he continued his studies to the age of seventeen. He then began learning more difficult lessons in the school of experience. Going to New York he was connected with mercantile pursuits there until 1874, after which he traveled as salesman until October, 1881, in which year the firm of Williams, Greene & Rome was organized and established business at Toronto in the manufacture of shirts, collars and cuffs. In 1886 the business was incorporated under the name of the Williams, Greene & Rome Com- pany with Mr. Williams as president and general manager. The plant removed from Toronto to Berlin in 1886. The enterprise has proved successful from the beginning and its steady and substantial growth has made .this the largest business of the character in the Dominion. They employ about five hundred operatives in the factory and the trade extends throughout Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The house is represented on the road by fourteen traveling salesmen and the output is being continually increased to meet the demands of the patronage. The plant is finely equipped with the latest and most modern improved machinery. The buildings cover four acres with athletic grounds adjoining, in which the employees participate in all outdoor sports. In connection there is a club house for male employees, in which have been installed a system of hot and cold baths and similar quarters have also been provided for the girls known as the rest room. In addition the employees have a sick benefit society and also what is called a flower fund. A suitable dining room is provided, also rooms have been supplied for making changes in wearing apparel, while every possible attention is given to the arrangements for sanitation and lighting. Among the employees has been organized a literary society and a dramatic society, the latter presenting plays several times a year. The work in the factory is under the supervision of an executive committee composed of the heads of the different departments, comprising six men and six women, who meet twice a week as a managing board. The work continues for nine hours a day and for five and a half days per week, the employees receiving a weekly half holiday in addition to Sunday. The Williams, Greene & Rome Company have indeed taken an advanced step in their treatment of their employees. Were such consideration and intelligence shown in other factories the question of labor and capital would be forever settled. The employees feel that they have a personal interest in the business and recognize the fact that faithful and competent service means advancement as opportunity offers. Good living wages are paid and it is no hardship to work in a place where a spirit of kindliness and consideration prevails, the employers showing a personal and individual interest in the welfare of those under their supervision. Such a course might be profitably followed by others and the factory at Berlin may well serve as an example. Mr. Williams is also interested in business enterprises aside from the manufactory. He was one of the promoters of the Ontario Sugar Company, which is one of the most extensive industrial institutions of the country and of which he served as managing director for two years. He is equally interested in the welfare and progress of his city and for ten years has done effective and valuable service in its behalf as a member of the city council, president Board of Trade for two years, and one of the chief workers in securing municipal ownership of the water works and electric light and gas plants. In 1880 Mr. Williams was married to Miss Sarah M. Freeman, of New York City, a daughter of the late Solomon Freeman. They have two daughters, Elinor and Esther. Mr. Williams is a believer in Christian Science and an active worker in the church. In politics he is a Conservative, but has always declined political preferment. It is only in local office that he has consented to serve, recognizing in this a matter of individual obligation and duty. He is content to do his public service as a private citizen and to labor for the welfare of his fellowmen through business interests. His career has been a notably successful one and stands in incontrovertible proof of the fact that humanitarianism, honesty and prosperity are not antagonistic forces. A History of Ontario: its resources and development ___________ Samuel J. Williams On Visit Here Dies At Hotel Yesterday A.M. Samuel James Williams, 70 years of age, died suddenly at his home at a local hotel early yesterday morning. Mr. Williams was well known in Canada, having been president of the Williams, Green and Rone company, Ltd., of Kitchener, Ontario, the Canadian holdings of the Cluett-Peabody company. Mr. Williams is survived by his widow and two daughters, Miss S. E. Williams and Miss D. Esther Williams. The family has been spending the winter in Santa Barbara. Funeral arrangements have not been completed as yet, other than the fact that the body will be taken to Los Angeles for cremation. The Morning Press Santa Barbara, California Tue, Apr 3, 1923 Page 6 ____________ REMINISCENT. Sir, The announcement in the morning paper of the death of Mr. Samuel J. Williams, president of Williams, Greene and Rome company, limited, of Kitchener, in Santa Barbara, Cal., yesterday, recalls to my mind that in 1901 while I was president of the Brantford Board of Trade, I was invited to attend the annual banquet of the Berlin Board of Trade, now Kitchener, to be held in the Walter House. Mr. S. J. Williams was then president of the Berlin Board of Trade. I accepted the invitation and went to the Walter House, where Mr. Williams met me and we drove in a carriage to the station to meet the late Hon. William Paterson, then minister of customs, who had come through from Ottawa by the Grand Trunk to attend the function. After lunch at the Walter House, the late Hon. William Paterson, President Willams, the secretary of the Board of Trade and myself were driven to see the leading factories of the town. The Hon. Mr. Paterson was of course the man of the hour, and I was very interested to see the keen and businesslike manner in which he asked the heads of the several business firms the questions, which he as minister of customs, would be interested in. The Board of Trade banquet was a big success and well attended. Mr. S. J. Williams presided. At his left sat the member of North Waterloo in the Dominion House, while on his right was the Hon. William Paterson. Next to him was the late Dr. Bowlhy, then mayor of Berlin, then myself as president of the Brantford Board of Trade. It was one of the greatest Board of Trade banquets I had ever attended. The minister of customs was in his best form, and made a splendid speech. It was business throughout, and there was not a word of politics in it. I could not help admire the splendid ability of the man. The sad thing to think of now is that President Williams, who was presiding, with the Hon. William Paterson at his right, and Mayor Bowlby between us, have all passed to the "Great Beyond." I write this to you as a token of appreciation of the character and ability of three old personal friends who have passed away. J. S. HAMILTON The Expositor Brantford, Ontario, Canada Wed, Apr 4, 1923 Page 3 ____________ Samuel J. Williams Was Prominent In Labor Upbuilding Samuel J. Williams, of Kitchener, Ontario, died Sunday night at the Upham hotel where he made his residence, He was 70 years of age. Prominent as a manufacturer and capatalist, he was president of Williams, Green and Rome company, of Kitchener, which later sold out to the Cluett, Peabody company, of Troy, N. Y. At the time of the transfer, 1920, Mr. Williams retired. Since his retirement he has been actively engaged in social reconstruction work, and was preparing to devote all his time to bettering relations between capital and labor. He was one of the first employers in Canada to engage in welfare. work among factory employes and worked considerable success along this line in his own establishment, where a strike was unknown. From the beginning of the Great War in 1914, he was also engaged in patriotic work. He is survived by his widow and two daughters, F. Elinor and D. Esther Williams. Two brothers, Colonel Williams of Washington, D. C., and J. Lee Williams of Chicago, also survive. The body will be taken to Los Angeles for cremation. The Morning Press Santa Barbara, California Wed, Apr 4, 1923 Page 6

  
  

• Sources

  [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-5 Page 11. [S340] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1911, Div. 25 1911 Pg. 7. [S350] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Kitchener Daily Record 1919-1947, S. J. Wiliams Died Suddenly - 3 April 1923.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 13 Mar 1853 - Madison, St. Joseph Co., Indiana Immigration - 1874 - , Ontario, Canada Immigration - 1878 - , Ontario, Canada Naturalization - 1878 - , Ontario, Canada Business - Williams, Greene & Rome Co.'s Shirt & Collar Manufactory - 1897 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1897 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - member of Kitchener Council - 1898 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Historic Building - The Arrow Building - - 112 Benton Street, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Manufacturing - 1901 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Shirt Collar - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1911 - 37 Roland St, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Christian Science - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1923 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Died - 1 Apr 1923 - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA  = Link to Google Earth